Diascia plant named ‘Diasupa’

ABSTRACT

A new  Diascia  plant particularly distinguished by its light pink flowers, which produces no seeds, and has a growing habit that is first upright and later spreading and hanging.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Diascia barberae.

Varietal denomination: ‘Diasupa’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Diascia, botanically known as Diascia barberae.

The new cultivar is a product resulting from the cross of ‘Diastara’ and ‘Diastis.’ ‘Diastara’ is a light pink flowering Diascia. ‘Diastara’ is commercially available and is known by the synonym ‘Flying Colors Appleblossom.’ ‘Diastis’ is a coral flowering Diascia. ‘Diastis’ is commercially available and is known by the synonym ‘Flying Colors Coral.’ ‘Diastara’ is patented as U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,782. ‘Diastis’ is patented as U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,950.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2002 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three-year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

This new Diascia plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 7, 8, 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Diascia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Diascia. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 10 week old plants, cultured in 10.5 cm containers, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse.

Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘DIASUPA,’ ITS PARENTS, AND A SIMILAR CULTIVAR ‘Diasupa’ ‘Diastara’ ‘Diastis’ ‘Diastara’ Flower color Light pink Appleblossom Coral Appleblossom Plant size Medium Medium Large Medium Leaf size Small Medium Large Medium Internodes Short Medium Medium Medium

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Diascia barberae.         -   Parentage.—Female parent: ‘Diastara’. Pollen parent:             ‘Diastis’.         -   Growth habit.—First upright, later spreading, ascending.         -   Plant height.—22-27 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—23-35 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.         -   Strength.—Very good.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Quantity of branches.—140-160 branches per plant.         -   Blooming period.—From April until November. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—1.2 mm.         -   Shape.—Quadrangular.         -   Length.—15-22 cm.         -   Color.—137C.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.         -   Length of internode.—Vegetative growth: 14-18 mm. Generative             growth: 14-28 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Not pubescent. -   The foliage:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite, decussate.         -   Number of leaves per lateral stem.—16-22.         -   Shape of blade.—Cordate.         -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Lower side: Smooth.         -   Attachment to leaf.—Petiolate.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Color of veins.—Upper side: 138C. Lower side: 138D.         -   Leaf margin.—Dentate.         -   Leaf base.—Cordate.         -   Leaf apex.—Abruptly acute.         -   Length.—14-26 mm.         -   Width.—12-22 mm.         -   Depth of incision.—Less than 1 mm.         -   Color.—Upper side: 138D. Lower side: 137D.         -   Pubescence.—No pubescence.         -   Length of petiole.—2 mm.         -   Diameter of petiole.—1-2 mm.         -   Color of petiole.—138D.         -   Petiole surface texture.—Smooth. -   The bud:     -   -   Peduncle length.—18-24 mm, depending on season.         -   Peduncle width.—1-2 mm.         -   Peduncle shape.—Long and threadlike.         -   Peduncle color.—138C.         -   Size of the bud.—Length: 2 mm. Diameter: 2 mm.         -   Shape of the bud.—Oval.         -   Color of the bud.—157B.         -   Number of buds per lateral branch.—14-24.         -   Sepals.—Color both surfaces: 138C. Form: Star-shaped.             Number: 5, parted. Length: 1-2 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Shape:             Elliptic, apex acute, base truncate. Margin: Entire.             Texture: Smooth.         -   Bracts.—Color upper side: 138C. Color lower side: 138D.             Arrangement: Sessile. Number: One underneath every pedicel.             Length: 1-2 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Apex: Acute. Base:             Subcordate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth.         -   Pedicels.—Color: 138C. Shape: Threadlike. Length: 6-8 mm.             Diameter: 1 mm. -   The flower:     -   -   Inflorescence length.—10-16 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—3-4 cm.         -   Flower width.—18-22 mm.         -   Flower length.—17-20 mm.         -   Flower depth.—6-7 mm.         -   Flower aspect.—Tipped upward and outward.         -   Borne.—Solitary, on axillary racemes.         -   Form.—Zygomorphic, five lobed, double nectar spur.         -   Cluster.—Raceme.         -   Color.—Upper surface: N155B, towards the edges of the petals             55D, on the two upper banner petals there is a small yellow             (color 9B) indentation just above the reproductive organs.             Lower surface: 55C, on the two upper banner petals there is             a small light yellow (color 9D) indentation at the base.         -   Overlapping of the petals.—Separate.         -   Number of petals.—Five: two upper banner petals, two lateral             petals and one larger basal lip petal.         -   Shape of the banner petals.—Apex rounded, base fused.         -   Shape of the lateral petals.—Apex rounded, base fused, lower             surface modified into nectar spurs.         -   Shape of the basal lip petal.—Apex truncate, base fused.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Size of the banner petals.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 5-8 mm.         -   Size of the lateral petals.—Length: 4-8 mm. Width: 6-8 mm.         -   Size of the basal lip petal.—Length: 18-20 mm. Width: 18-21             mm.         -   Spur.—Length: 7 mm. Diameter: 1-2 mm at petal attachment.             Color: 55A.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—29-60.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Lastingness of the bloom.—New florets continue to open in             one raceme over a period of 15 days.         -   Lastingness of one flower.—About 3 days depending on             temperature.         -   Flowering season.—Depending on climate from March until             December. -   The reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen number: Three. Anther shape: Two-lobed.             Anther size: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 7A. Amount of             pollen: Very much pollen. Pollen color: 7A.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: 1. Stigma shape: Rounded. Pistil             length: 2-3 mm. Style length: 1-2 mm. Style color: 143A.             Stigma color: 157B. Ovary color: 134B. -   The fruit and the seed: No fruit development or seedset has been     observed to date. -   The roots:     -   -   Type of roots.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Fine and freely branching.         -   Color.—Whitish, N155B. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics:     -   -   Disease/pest resistance.—Plants of the new Diascia have not             been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to             Diascia.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Plants of the new Diascia have been             observed to tolerate temperatures from −2 to 38 degrees C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant as substantially illustrated and described herein. 